There's no sporting event in the world I love anywhere near as much as the
world cup. With my newly arrived Brazil, France and Russia jerseys and my
itch to go out and kick a ball already increasing as the summer approaches,
I'll no doubt watch and analyse every game possible.

Group A // Hosts Brazil to deliver a solid performance and top the group. Mexico
only scraped through to the play-offs thanks to the USA coming from behind to
beat Panama and they lack big-name players, but their recent results have seen an
improvement and they?re unbeaten in 8 including games against the USA, Ecuador
and South Korea. Despite this I see a solid Croatian squad including Modric and
Mandukic coming out on top. // 1. Brazil 2. Croatia 3. Mexico 4. Cameroon

Group B // Spain may not be the force they were four years ago but I still see them
having the quality to top this tough group. Netherlands may have only dropped two
points in qualifying but most of their opposition was pretty weak, their recent
results have been mediocre (not to mention their showing in Euro 2012) and they?ve
dropped to #15 in the FIFA Rankings. Despite a weaker squad, I can see a Vidal &
Sanchez-powered Chile side taking the (relative) home advantage and nipping
second. // 1. Spain 2. Chile 3. Netherlands 4. Australia

Group C // This group is pretty bad. Colombia are probably the weakest seeded
team in the tournament but even with star striker Falcao injured I can see them
dominating Group C. The Ivory Coast are relying on their aging stars (Drogba?s 36
and the squad?s average age is 29) so even with the likes of Yaya Touré and
Gervinho I think they could struggle. Japan?s side is solid, as are their previous
world cup performances, and Greece know how to jew themselves out of groups like
these. // 1. Colombia 2. Greece 3. Japan 4. Ivory Coast

Group D // I can?t see any true world class teams here so the English media?s
assertion that Group D is the group of death is frankly hilarious. Still, Italy are the
best team here despite their high average age and I think England can just about
edge an ageing Uruguay team who aside from Cavani, Suarez and Godin offer little.
Uruguay had to qualify through the play-offs after conceding 25 goals in 16 games.
// 1. Italy 2. England 3. Uruguay 4. Costa Rica

Group E // Off the back of an appalling 2010 campaign and a disappointing 2012
Euro tournament, France has turned its fortunes around. The team showed grit in
giving Spain a run for its money in qualifying and in coming back from a 2-0 first leg
deficit to win their play-off tie against Ukraine and the team?s finally regained a
sense of unity. With Ribéry in his prime and finally starting to play well for France,
rising stars such as Varane and Pogba and a solid first 11 including Sagna,
Koscielny, Cabaye, Valbuena and Benzema, France could well be dark horses.
Switzerland?s strong defence should help them comfortably through. // 1. France 2.
Switzerland 3. Ecuador 4. Honduras

Group G // Probably the most exciting group but again, not a very tricky one to
predict. Germany?s attacking qualities will no doubt let them dominate their group as
always. Portugal have the quality to ease through with Cristiano Ronaldo at his
peak. The USA are solid and Ghana could provide challenging opposition but a
youthful side (with an average of just 24.9) will struggle. // 1. Germany 2. Portugal
3. Ghana 4. USA

Group H // Belgium are the official dark horses of the world cup, with most bookies
placing them as 5th favourites. Despite the squad?s quality on paper they?ve
sometimes struggled as a team however, so expect some good match ups with
Russia and South Korea. // 1. Belgium 2. Russia 3. South Korea 4. Algeria

Round of 16 (2): Colombia v England // There?s been much hype around this
Colombian side but they?re evidently not one of the favourites, so they seem like
the ideal fodder for 5 days of media hype before England inevitably get fucked by
Brazil in the quarter-finals. Colombia?s strengths are disproportionately in attack,
but with Falcao missing a hungry young England side could win on the counter
attack. // FT: 1-2 (aet)

Round of 16 (7) Argentina v Switzerland // Argentina?s strong attack may be
frustrated by Switzerland?s robust defence and they?ll have to watch themselves on
the counter attack. Switzerland know how to compete with the big teams and this
is a potential upset, but I feel Argentina has a bigger part to play in this
tournament than fall at this hurdle. // FT: 0-0 (Argentina win on penalties).

Round of 16 (8) Belgium v Portugal // Belgium are technically more favoured to win
the competition, but I can see them having a relatively disappointing campaign. In
this game they?ll lack the spark of Ronaldo-infused Portugal side. // FT: 1-3

Quarter Final (2) France v Germany // This is a very tricky one to predict.
Germany?s squad is too good to go out at this stage but they have a tendency to
crumble and I know France have the quality to really challenge the big teams,
especially those with defensive weaknesses such as Germany?s. The idea of a
potential Brazil v France rematch of the 1998 final is also enticing but I?m going to
play this one conservatively and say France will bow out after a solid tournament.
// FT: 2-3 (aet)

Semi Final (2) Spain v Argentina // I think this is where Spanish domination ends.
Argentina may have a weaker defence and midfield on paper, but if the 2013
confederations cup taught as anything it?s that Spain are gonna get fucked up bad
by this terrifying South American attack. Di Maria to rule this game. // FT: 1-4

Final // Brazil v Argentina // This could go either way. A huge South American derby
which should be a thrilling game, with the fiery home support on one side and
Argentina?s monster attack on the other but neither side exhibiting particularly solid
defences. This is Brazil?s tournament, but it could be Messi?s one shot at lifting the
world cup ever, let alone in South America. Before the confederations cup I
probably would?ve tipped Argentina to win. // FT: 4-3

Seeing as though no European team has ever won in South America I think you rule them all out (virtually). Germany v Argentina final with Argentina just edging it, Germany win games when they play poor.

yeah, so we've had three world cups since, with two of them hosted in south korea/japan and south africa respectively. germany could've won 2006 but other than that there hasn't really been an opportunity for a host nation to win

It'll be interesting to see how some of the European teams deal with the climate. There's a vast difference between some of the venues so that could have a big effect on results, especially towards the latter stages.

Yes, France are vastly underrated. Recent tournaments have seen them either win it (or go close), or have a complete meltdown.

Brazil v Argentina would be a great final but in my lifetime Argentina have never got it done at major tournaments. and Messi had a great season, as opposed to his impossibly amazing last few. last WC he probably came into it on the back of that season when Barca won 6 trophies.

I sure hope Belgium makes it further than your prediction. I'll be rooting for them (lived in the damned country for 10 years), but you might just be right about them bumming it out early on in the play-offs. I think Germany just might have what it takes to win this tournament, and I'm sure they really want it this time. They're a strong side and have been close but haven't taken it since 1990.

hoped to watch all the games but i will tragically have to miss at least one quarter final on july 4th due to a devin townsend gig. which i think according to your predictions will be the one England are playing in damn. though to get that far would mean it's been a good tournament for us.

i'm buying two cases of beer and moving in with a friend for the duration of the WC, it's going to be so good. looking forward to seeing belgium, croatia, etc. i hope japan can make it past the group stages too, they are great to watch.

Argentina is nothing nowadays. The only advantage they have is their awful opponents in the group stage. They will still get their asses kicked in 1/8. Fucking hate those bastards. They're like Mexicans to me. Fucking hate Mexicans.

Argentina do have a strong team, even without Tevez (I don't really understand his exclusion). You can always question them defensively though. I'd be interested to see the first-team centre-back choices. Garay's had a good season.

Your predictions for the group stages are pretty much how I would predict it too, except I'm not so sure about Group D. As much as it pains me to say it I think Uruguay might well have the edge over England.

Totally agree with your predictions for the final 4, really can't see it going any other way than those 4 teams all making it to the semis.

Rooting for Chile as the underdogs but yeah I can't really see them beating Brazil.

Neymar is so overrated, and most teams will prob stack players against him so I don't have faith in him at all. Messi haven't been bad this season, but he hasn't been his usual self either. Haven't looked all of the teams over, but I think Kun has a good shot at the title.

Honestly, despite his fitness shortcomings I'd be surprised if Klose didn't start. Muller certainly doesn't work as a sole striker; Gotze as a false 9 was a bit of a failure, it'd work against lesser opposition but the World Cup is no time to experiment.

shame strootman is injured, he's really the type of player netherlands need now. their midfield/defense does look very weak. also i think bosnia will be interesting to watch. pjanic, dzeko and ibisevic have all had good seasons.